All posts tagged ‘Story Land’

If you happen to be in the far North East and have a love of classic children’s stories, you might want to take a look at Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire. Set in the beautiful White Mountains, this park is the life’s work of the Morrell family whose park motto, “Where Fantasy Lives,” sums up their desire to bring traditional stories alive for the children of New England.

Opened in 1954 with an admission fee of 85 cents for everyone over twelve, the park was family owned until 2006 and the family-centred organisation behind the park is evident in its attractions. What began with a set of fairy tale dolls purchased in Germany led to a small park of colorful buildings and characters. Slowly, attractions and rides were added and now a thriving theme park nestles alongside the magnificent presidential range of mountains.

The Park contains several different kinds of attractions that make it perfect for a family of all ages. The bulk of the park’s attractions are grounded in fairy tales, and reminiscent of the early years of the park. Just as his predecessors in the fifties did, my toddler was able to meet and chat with Mother Goose, The Old Woman in the Shoe gave him a Story Land sticker (which would have been a pin in the fifties), and he spent a good half an hour playing in Heidi’s house and chatting with her Grandfather. These character actors are not in giant foam costumes, you do not have to line up to meet them. They are just there, in the park, waiting to make a child happy. Though he was scared of Cinderella in her castle, Toby did not stop talking about her for days. He was also able to get close to some of the animals from his favorite stories and rhymes, as he visited with the Three Billy Goats Gruff and the Three Little Pigs. In an area of the park known as “For Little Dreamers,” children can play One Two Buckle My Shoe, be baked in a pie with four and twenty blackbirds, and sit on a tuffet awaiting a spider. These are not high tech attractions, they are simple but highly effective. The ball pool alone, originally home to two live seals, in this area of the park could easily occupy the most rambunctious of toddlers for hours. I should know, I have one!